Since 1997 the University of Missouri Extension has trained volunteers for the Missouri Master Gardener program. After completing the Core Course, Master Gardeners advise and train communities on gardening and environmental horticulture, and participate in various educational service projects. The Master Gardener program is instrumental in building strong communities in our region.

Participants will become certified as Master Gardeners after taking the 30-plus hour training course and fulfilling the first year’s 30 hour garden education related volunteer requirement. Every subsequent year, certification is maintained through the completion of at least 20 hours of volunteer time on projects and taking an additional 6 hours of continued horticultural education.

Anyone interested in becoming a Missouri Master Gardener can apply to take the fall 2013 core course. The course will begin with an orientation on Thursday, August 22 at the Pulaski County Courthouse 301 Historic 66 East, Waynesville, MO 65583. Some refreshments will be provided.

Participants will become certified as Master Gardeners after taking the 30-plus hour training course and fulfilling the first year’s 30 hour garden education related volunteer requirement. Every subsequent year, certification is maintained through the completion of at least 20 hours of volunteer time on projects and 6 hours of learning through continuing horticultural education.

Anyone interested in becoming a Master Gardener can apply to take the fall 2013 core course. The course will start with an orientation on Thursday, August 22 from 6-9:30 pm and thereafter will run once a week from September 5 through October 24, 2013 at the Pulaski County Courthouse 301 Historic 66 East, Waynesville, MO 65583. Claases will be held on Thursday evenings from 6-9:30pm and two field trips will be held on Saturday September 7, and October 5 from 9am-5pm.Some refreshments will be provided.

The complete course fee is $125. The optional Master Gardener Core Manual is available for purchase for an additional $30. All core manual materials are available for download online at no charge. A limited amount of partial scholarships are available. The registration deadline is August 9, 2013. Registrations may be submitted now with a $25 deposit with all fees due by August 9th.

Members of the general public not interested in becoming an active master gardener may audit individual classes of interest. The fee for auditing a Thursday night class is $15 and the fee for auditing a field trip is $35 (includes a box lunch).

For more details, email or call Carrie Williamson or visit the group on Facebook. To register for the training or to audit classes, complete a registration form and send it to the Pulaski County Extension Center. Copies of the trainee and auditing registration forms are available at the Pulaski County Extension Center and online at http://extension.missouri.edu/pulaski .